Lacrosse Training Ball

ABSTRACT

A lightweight lacrosse training ball that is suitable for use in lacrosse training drills is lighter, softer, and larger than a regulation lacrosse ball. The lacrosse training ball is comprised of multiple layers: an inner (non-hollow or hollow) layer comprised of a rubber compound; a middle layer comprised of felt or a similar cushioning material; and an outer layer. In one embodiment, the lacrosse training ball is a non-hollow or hollow, lightweight ball with a cushioning layer covered with an outer surface. The light weight of the lacrosse training ball makes it suitable for training where player safety is of concern. The light weight is also advantageous for developing optimal catching ability, forcing players to focus on “giving” with the catch or catching softly. The larger size of the lacrosse training ball increases catching proficiency as there is less room for error in catching a larger ball.

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a ball used for lacrosse training, and more particularly to a lightweight ball suitable for training in lacrosse drills.

BACKGROUND

A regulation lacrosse ball is a solid rubber ball weighing between 141.7 grams and 155.9 grams and having a diameter between 62.7 mm and 64.7 mm. For training purposes, especially for youth or beginner players, the regulation lacrosse ball may be considered to be both hard, presenting safety concerns, and small, reducing accuracy and skill that may be attained through training.

This document describes a lightweight lacrosse training ball that is also softer than a regulation lacrosse ball and, in addition, larger than a regulation lacrosse ball, resulting in improved training in lacrosse drills.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a lightweight lacrosse training ball.

In one embodiment, a lacrosse training ball is comprised of: an inner layer comprised of a rubber compound; a second layer comprised of a cushioning material, the second layer covering the inner layer; and a third outer layer comprised of a textured material, the third outer layer covering the second layer. The lacrosse training ball is lighter, softer, and larger than a regulation lacrosse ball.

According to an embodiment, the third outer layer is comprised of one of: (i) adhesive tape; (ii) athletic tape; (iii) a textured cotton; and (iv) a textured cotton blend. In an embodiment in which the third outer layer is comprised of one of adhesive tape and athletic tape, the tape is wrapped around the second layer to fully encompass the second layer.

According to an embodiment, the weight of the lacrosse training ball is between about 61.45 grams and about 61.79 grams.

According to an embodiment, the diameter of the lacrosse training ball ranges from about 65.41 mm to about 68.58 mm.

In an embodiment, the inner layer and the second layer comprise a regulation tennis ball.

In another embodiment, a lacrosse training ball comprises: an inner layer comprised of a rubber compound; and an outer layer comprised of one of a textured material or a smooth material, the outer layer covering the inner layer. The lacrosse training ball is lighter, softer, and larger than a regulation lacrosse ball.

In an embodiment, the outer layer is comprised of one of: (i) adhesive tape; (ii) athletic tape; (iii) a smooth cotton; (iv) a textured cotton; (v) a smooth cotton blend; and (vi) a textured cotton blend.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific instrumentalities disclosed. Included in the drawings are the following Figures:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a lacrosse training ball, according to embodiments provided herein;

FIGS. 2-4 provide a perspective view of a lacrosse training ball, according to various embodiments; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front views of a lacrosse training ball and a regulation lacrosse ball in a net and a pocket, respectively, of a lacrosse stick, according to embodiments provided herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a lightweight lacrosse training ball that is suitable for use in a wide range of lacrosse training drills.

According to embodiments provided herein, the lacrosse training ball is lighter (i.e., has less mass) than a regulation lacrosse ball. According to embodiments provided herein, the lacrosse training ball is also softer than a regulation lacrosse ball and larger than a regulation lacrosse ball.

The purpose of the lacrosse training ball is generally multi-fold. For example, as opposed to the hard rubber regulation lacrosse ball, the training ball is designed to provide player safety during lacrosse training. The training ball is intended for use in instructional drills where a regulation lacrosse ball can be counter-productive to skill development, dangerous, and unnecessary. Specifically non-limiting examples in this category are goalie drills, where goalies face a high volume of shots; and youth training, where beginner players are learning to catch and throw. Therefore, the lacrosse training ball, according to embodiments provided herein, increases player safety with respect to training due to its lightness and softer design. While softer than a regulation lacrosse ball, the lacrosse training ball has a firmness that is substantially retained under pressure and contact.

By way of another example, the training ball is designed as a teaching tool designed to develop optimal catching ability in advanced players, often referred to as developing “soft hands.” As opposed to a traditional heavy rubber lacrosse ball, which when caught tends to naturally “stick” in the pocket of a lacrosse stick, drills using a lightweight training ball lightweight training ball force more advanced players to focus on “giving” with the catch or catching softly. Moreover, the larger size of the training ball, as compared with a regulation lacrosse ball, increases catching proficiency as there is less room for error in catching a larger ball. Therefore, the lacrosse training ball, according to embodiments provided herein, increases proficiency with respect to training due to its lightness and larger size. FIG. 1 provides a cross-sectional view of the lacrosse training ball 100, illustrating the various layers that form the lacrosse training ball 100, according to some embodiments. The lacrosse training ball 100, according to an embodiment, is comprised of three layers: an inner (non-hollow or hollow) layer 110 comprised of a rubber compound with a diameter D1; a middle layer 120 comprised of felt or a similar cushioning material with a thickness T1; and an outer layer 130 with a thickness T2. D2 represents the diameter of the inner layer 110 and the middle layer 120; and D3 represents the diameter of the inner layer 110, the middle layer 120, and the outer layer 130.

In one embodiment, the lacrosse training ball 100 includes a hollow center region 140 defined by the inner layer 110; the inner layer 110 is covered by the cushioning layer 120, and the cushioning layer 20 is covered or wrapped with the outer surface 130. In another embodiment, the lacrosse training ball 100 includes a non-hollow (e.g., solid) center region 140 defined by the inner layer 110, the inner layer 110 covered by the cushioning layer 120, and the cushioning layer 120 covered or wrapped with the outer surface 130.

In one embodiment, the inner layer 110 comprises a hollow, spherical-shaped, air filled layer. In an embodiment, the hollow inner lay 110 and the middle layer 120 comprise a regulation tennis ball or the like. In this embodiment, the hollow inner lay 110 and the middle layer 120 are comprised of a felt-covered rubber compound with a combined diameter (D2) of between about 65.41 mm and about 68.58 mm and weighing between about 56.0 and about 59.4 grams.

According to an embodiment, the outer surface 130 is a textured material. The outer surface 130 may be, for example, an adhesive tape or an athletic tape (i.e., the kind of tape used by trainers to wrap ankles or to wrap the blades of ice hockey sticks) or the like. In one embodiment, the textured outer layer 130 is comprised of standard athletic tape (having a width of 35 mm), which is wrapped around to fully cover the cushioning layer 120. In some embodiments, the tape used for the textured outer layer 130 is M-Tape® or the like. M-Tape® is a 100% cotton backcloth, zinc oxide athletic tape that has high tensile strength with excellent tackiness and conformability properties.

In some embodiments, the outer surface 130 of the lacrosse training ball 100 may be smooth or substantially smooth. In some embodiments, the outer surface 130 is comprised of one of: a smooth cotton, a textured cotton, a smooth cotton blend, a textured cotton blend, or the like. In embodiments in which adhesive tape, athletic tape, or the like is used as the outer surface 130, the outer surface 130 becomes smooth as the lacrosse training ball 100 is used (i.e., the use of the ball 100 causes the outer surface 130 to eventually smoothen out). In other embodiments, the outer surface of the lacrosse training ball may include aerodynamic features to effect the flight of the ball as it travels through the air. The aerodynamic features may cause the ball to, for example, “wobble” in flight.

FIGS. 2-4 provide a perspective view of a lacrosse training ball according to various embodiments. In FIG. 2, a lacrosse training ball 200 has an outer surface 230 comprised of standard athletic tape with a width of about 35 mm, wrapped around to fully cover the cushioning layer. The lacrosse training ball 300 of FIG. 3 has an outer surface 330 comprised of athletic tape with a width of, for example, about 17 mm, wrapped around to fully cover the cushioning layer. The lacrosse training ball 400 of FIG. 4 has an outer surface comprised of two portions 432 and 434 that wrap around respective portions of the cushioning layer to cover the cushioning layer.

The lacrosse training balls 200, 300, and 400 are exemplary embodiments illustrating a few configurations of the outer surface of the lacrosse training ball described herein. Various other types of arrangements may be used; for example, a manufacturing process may be used to provide the lacrosse training ball with a solid, uniform outer surface.

According to an embodiment, the diameter of the lacrosse training ball is similar to that of a standard tennis ball. A standard tennis ball has a diameter of 65.41 to 68.58 mm. A standard lacrosse ball has a diameter of 62.7 mm to 64.7 mm; thus, the lacrosse training ball is slightly larger in diameter than a standard lacrosse ball.

According to an embodiment, the weight of the lacrosse training ball is similar to or slightly exceeds that of a standard tennis ball. A standard tennis ball has a weight between 56.0 grams and 59.4 grams. The lacrosse training ball may have a weight range of about 61.45 grams to about 61.79 grams. This is significantly less than the weight of a regulation lacrosse ball (141.7 grams to 155.9 grams). This significant weight difference is exemplified when considering the forces experienced by a goalie by a regulation lacrosse ball and the lacrosse training ball. For a regulation lacrosse ball of a weight of 141.7 grams moving at 17.88 m/sec (approximately 40 miles per hour) with an impact time (i.e., the time immediately preceding impact to the actual impact) of 10 ms, the force is 253.36 N. For the lacrosse training ball of a weight of 61.45 grams under the same conditions, the force is 109.87 N, less than half the force of the regulation lacrosse ball. For a speed of 33.53 m/sec (approximately 75 miles per hour), the force of the regulation lacrosse ball is 475.12 N, while the force of the lacrosse training ball is 206.04 N.

With respect to the size of the lacrosse training ball, it is noted that the lacrosse training ball should not exceed the diameters noted above (except with the variations described below), as too large a ball results in a poor fit within a pocket of a lacrosse stick. This is illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in which a lacrosse training ball (such as the ball 100, 200, 300, 400 or variations thereof described above) is positioned within a net 505 of a head 510 that connect to a shaft 515 of a lacrosse stick 500. A pocket 520 is formed by the net 505 and a lower portion of the head 510. Also shown is an outline representing a regulation lacrosse ball, as indicated by dashed line 530, having a diameter D4. It is noted that the lacrosse training ball is slightly larger than the regulation lacrosse ball 530. As shown in FIG. 5B, the larger diameter D3 of the lacrosse training ball in accordance with embodiments of the invention results in less space between the outer periphery of the lacrosse training ball and the sides of the head 510 when the lacrosse training ball is sitting in the pocket 520, as indicated by distances 540 and 542. Again, this enhances the benefits of training players to properly catch the ball.

In an alternative embodiment, a lacrosse training ball is comprised of two layers: the inner rubber compound layer and the outer textured or smooth layer.

The term “about,” as used herein, refers to variations in a numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through measuring or handling procedures in the real world; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of compositions or reagents; and the like. Typically, the term “about” as used herein means greater or lesser than the value or range of values stated by 1/10 of the stated values, e.g., ±10%. The term “about” also refers to variations that would be recognized by one skilled in the art as being equivalent so long as such variations do not encompass known values practiced by the prior art. Each value or range of values preceded by the term “about” is also intended to encompass the embodiment of the stated absolute value or range of values. Whether or not modified by the term “about,” quantitative values recited in the claims include equivalents to the recited values ,e.g., variations in the numerical quantity of such values that can occur, but would be recognized to be equivalents by a person skilled in the art.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims be construed to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A lacrosse training ball, comprising: an inner layer comprised of a rubber compound; a second layer comprised of a cushioning material, the second layer covering the inner layer; and a third outer layer comprised of a textured material, the third outer layer covering the second layer; wherein the lacrosse training ball is lighter, softer, and larger than a regulation lacrosse ball.
 2. The lacrosse training ball of claim 1, wherein the third outer layer is comprised of one of: (i) adhesive tape; (ii) athletic tape; (iii) a textured cotton; and (iv) a textured cotton blend.
 3. The lacrosse training ball of claim 2, wherein the third outer layer is comprised of one of adhesive tape and athletic tape, the adhesive or athletic tape wrapped around the second layer to fully encompass the second layer.
 4. The lacrosse training ball of claim 1, wherein the weight of the lacrosse training ball is between about 61.45 grams and about 61.79 grams.
 5. The lacrosse training ball of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the lacrosse training ball ranges from about 65.41 mm to about 68.58 mm
 6. The lacrosse training ball of claim 1, wherein the inner layer and the second layer comprise a regulation tennis ball.
 7. A lacrosse training ball, comprising: an inner layer comprised of a rubber compound; and an outer layer comprised of one of a textured material or a smooth material, the outer layer covering the inner layer; wherein the lacrosse training ball is lighter, softer, and larger than a regulation lacrosse ball.
 8. The lacrosse training ball of claim 7, further comprising: a second layer comprised of a cushioning material, the second layer in between the inner layer and the outer layer.
 9. The lacrosse training ball of claim 8, wherein the inner layer and the second layer comprise a regulation tennis ball.
 10. The lacrosse training ball of claim 7, wherein the outer layer is comprised of one of: (i) adhesive tape; (ii) athletic tape; (iii) a smooth cotton; (iv) a textured cotton; (v) a smooth cotton blend; and (vi) a textured cotton blend.
 11. The lacrosse training ball of claim 7, wherein the weight of the lacrosse training ball is between about 61.45 grams and about 61.79 grams.
 12. The lacrosse training ball of claim 7, wherein the diameter of the lacrosse training ball ranges from about 65.41 mm to about 68.58 mm 